Burning man saved with Coca Cola

A man who accidentally set himself on fire has been saved after his son doused him with Coca Cola. The quick action of 15-year-old Nicholas Wythe probably saved his father's life.

Andrew Wythe, 52, was completely engulfed in flames when a spark ignited fumes from the petrol bottle he had been using to start a bonfire. Flames soon covered him, setting his arms, chest, neck and ears alight.

Grabbing a two-litre bottle of Coke, Nicholas shook it up and aimed it at his father as he unscrewed the cap. The pressure from the carbon dioxide in the soft drink forced a jet of liquid over Andrew Wythe and extinguished the flames.

"He started rolling on the floor, but because it was an awkward position that wasn't really working. The next minute he was running towards me shouting 'Help!'", Nicholas said. "Instinct took over really and I picked up a two litre bottle of cola lying nearby, shook it, and sprayed it to douse the flames."

Andrew was rushed to the West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance by his wife Anita, before being transferred to the Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, where he was treated for his burns. Despite the seriousness of his injuries, doctors said his son's quick thinking had saved his life and the injuries would have been fatal if had they not been put out.

Source: Xinhua